€2m Security Headache - State Decided Against Asking Church To Foot Bill

THE STATE anticipated a security bill of up to £2 million arising from the papal visit but decided against seeking reimbursement from the Catholic Church, the State papers show.

The total bill for the visit was estimated at £3 million, and there was no evidence in the documents that the costs were recouped.

Although it was a pastoral, not a State, visit, the government decided departments should only seek reimbursement from the church for goods and services normally charged for on a commercial basis.

In documents from the Department of the Taoiseach dealing with the visit, a memo from the Department of Finance showed the bulk of costs, up to £2 million, would be incurred on security measures and reimbursement should not be sought for them.

The then minister for defence, Bobby Molloy, had said he did not wish to charge for stewarding of the events by the Army and FCA personnel.

“The Department of Defence also had requests from the Church authorities for Army personnel to dig latrines and erect toilets,” the document said.

“In view of the unemployment situation, it has been indicated to defence that this department considers that it would be inappropriate for the Army to do this work.”

Items recommended for recoupment included telex and phone services worth £150,000 and the costs for supply of timber for corrals in the Phoenix Park.